Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Blind users can read the feed, set classes, exchange messages, comment on publications and even find out what is shown in the photographs, use the mail functionality. The innovation was tested by blind testers.

Mobile applications of the social network Odnoklassniki (iOS and Android) and Mail.ru Mail (Android) have been tested by the voluntary certification system of the Everland inclusive project “Accessibility of retail premises, websites and mobile applications”.

According to the assessment conducted by blind testers, each of the applications received more than 80 points of non-visual accessibility out of 100 possible.

“The certification of OK and Mail.ru mobile applications is the first step towards increasing the digital availability of VK social services. Plans for 2023 include increasing the availability of VKontakte and VK ID. We plan to make digital accessibility the standard for all our products,” said Alexandra Babkina, director of social projects at VK, head of Dobra Mail.ru.

Mobile applications were evaluated according to 9 non-visual accessibility criteria. Among them: voicing input, logical and predictable movement of the screen reader cursor when swiping, the presence of text labels in interface elements (buttons, input fields, clickable images) and others.

Most of the elements in the OK apps on Android and iOS received audible labels. Now users can understand where they are and what exactly is available to them on the page. For example, read the tape, put classes or any other emotions to choose from. Exchange messages, comment on publications and even find out what is shown in the photos (iOS).

More than 50 tasks have been solved in the Mail.ru Mail application to improve non-visual accessibility: you can easily register, create a new mailbox, recover your password, write a letter, reply and forward messages, attach documents to a letter, and perform other actions. Now users at each step hear hints and the correct voice acting of the elements they interact with. Also, Mail.ru Mail has a built-in voice assistant Marusya, which helps to parse mail, turn on music or radio and find the answer to any question on the Internet.